MacTech News

Oct 28

Quark previews QuarkXPress 2015

Quark Software has unveiled QuarkXPress 2015 (www.quark.com/2015), the next major version of the design and layout tool for print and digital publishing.
Coming in the first quarter of next year, QuarkXPress 2015 will deliver "increased performance with a new 64-bit architecture, efficient print and digital production and many of the most user-requested features," says Matthias Guenther, director, QuarkXPress Business Unit for Quark. The new version of QuarkXPress will continue to be sold as a perpetual license.
He says new features include: 64-bit performance; larger page sizes; a dedicated orthogonal line tool; fixed layout interactive eBooks; custom paper sizes; the ability to relink any picture in the usage dialog; the ability to collect output for a complete project; user-definable Mac shortcut keys; table styles; a format painter; Mac OS X Yosemite support; and more.
In anticipation of the availability of QuarkXPress 2015, Quark has launched the "Buy QuarkXPress 10, Get...

Oct 28

BatchOutput PDF gets OS X Yosemite support

Zevrix Solutions (www.zevrix.com) has updated BatchOutput PDF, its PDF printing automation solution, to version 2.2.9, which is compatible with Mac OS X Yosemite.
The software allows users to print PDF files from watched hot folders, saving the time and effort of opening and printing each document manually. Documents are printed automatically using the assigned output preset.
BatchOutput PDF is available for $24.95 from Zevrix and the Mac App Store. A demo is available for download from the Zevrix website.

Oct 27

QuickerTek adds BT 4.0 and 802.11ac to older Macs

QuickerTek. has developed three additional mCards to enable 802.11a,b,g,n,ac WIFi as well as Blue Tooth 4.0 LE for Yosemite Continuity features including Handoff to Work on older Mac's running Mac OS X Yosemite.
mCard works with common wireless networking equipment. Users can also choose to add higher-power antennas, should their needs not be met by the internal stock antenna. mCard is user installable using only a screwdriver and/or Torx driver. Software drivers are supplied.
Using the same chipset that Apple uses in newer laptops and desktops, users of the new mCards can be confident that it works right out of the box — now and in the future, according to the folks at QuickerTek. mCard is user installable using only a screwdriver and/or Torx driver. Software drivers are supplied. Go to http://tinyurl.com/nxvo6sa for more info.

Oct 27

Alpine Electronics In-Dash Receiver with Apple CarPlay now...

Alpine Electronics of America has announced availability in North American markets of the iLX-007, an aftermarket in-dash receiver dedicated for optimum compatibility with Apple CarPlay.
The iLX-007 is a mech-less in-dash receiver with a 7-inch capacitive touch screen with a flat-face design. CarPlay gives iPhone users a way to make calls, use Maps, listen to music and access messages with just a word or a touch. When Apple CarPlay is used on the iLX-007, users can control Apple CarPlay from the 7-inch screen or activate Siri for minimized distraction, says Hirofumi Morioka, Alpine’s senior director and chief technical officer.
Corresponding audio, driving directions and phone calls are played through the vehicle’s speaker system. Apple CarPlay uses a Lightning connector and is compatible with iPhone 5 or later, including iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus and the latest version of iOS. Other features include three (2V) preouts, one aux input, Alpine’s MediaXpander technology for improved...

Oct 27

Spike Software launches Audio Switcher 2.0 for Mac OS X

Spike Software (http://www.spikesoft.net) has launched Audio Switcher 2.0, a Mac OS X utility that allows you to switch your audio input and output between different audio devices.
Automatically detecting when your audio devices are connected or disconnected, the tool resides in the Status Bar. Version 2.0 expands support for a wider range of devices.
Audio Switcher requires OS X 10.7 or later and costs US$4.99. It's available at the Mac App Store in the Utilities category.

Oct 27

A-Audio debuts Icon Wireless headphones

A-Audio has announced the Icon Wireless Over-Ear Headphones, which the company claims is the first wireless headphone to offer "Three-Stage Listening Technology" that allows listeners to choose between Base Enhancer, Active Noise Cancellation and Audio modes.
The US$379 Icon sports Bluetooth 4.0 technology to connect wirelessly to mobile devices. Inspired by classic auto and luxury timepiece craftsmanship, the Icon incorporates supple leather with diamond-quilted stitching into the headphone band and premium anti-vibration octagonal aluminum bezels on each ear cup, according to the folks at A-Audio. Built-in controls on the ear cup put your music at your fingertips with remote control of track volume and more.
The Icon has a foldable design and comes with a custom tailored carrying case. The rechargeable lithium-ion battery purportedly provides 12 hours of uninterrupted wireless sound. It will be available next month at A-Audio.com and Amazon.com.

Oct 27

Chaos Group releases V-Ray 3.0 for Maya

Chaos Group has released V-Ray 3.0 for Maya (http://www.v-ray.com/maya/), delivering a new set of features and optimizations focused on speeding up lighting, look development, and rendering workflows.
V-Ray 3.0 for Maya introduces a faster ray tracing core that significantly speeds up a number of calculations for global illumination, lighting, shading and more. For additional speed gains, V-Ray 3.0 also includes an option to enable the Intel Embree ray caster for static and motion-blurred geometry, proxy objects and instances.
V-Ray 3.0 for Maya adds a new Progressive Image Sampler with a range of production features and is compatible with all of V-Ray’s GI algorithms such as irradiance map, light cache, and brute force path tracing. An enhanced V-Ray RT engine renders directly in the Maya Viewport and supports animated sequences as well as final frame rendering.
V-Ray 3.0 optimizes shading and rendering of millions of strands of semi-transparent hair with greater speed and...

Oct 27

Paradigma's Valentina products upgraded to version 5.6

Paradigma Software has rolled out version 5.6 of Valentina Server, Valentina DB ADK and Valentina Studio.
Valentina Core Database technology adds Hash Indexes as a new feature and related commands in its SQL support and high level API. Hash Indexes are high performance indexes for databases. The release also included other database optimizations. Indexes that operate on String/VarChar fields build much faster — up to 10 - 15 times faster than Valentina 5.5.
Valentina DB ADK, allows developers to embed the high speed, object-relational Valentina DB in their applications. Valentina DB ADK is available for every major computing platform and development API, such as Java, Objective-C / Cocoa, .NET / C#, C++, LiveCode, Xojo and more for Linux, Mac OS X and Windows. The databases are scalable to Valentina Server. Valentina DB ADK is available for $199 per platform, includes 12 months of updates and allows royalty free, unlimited deployment.
Valentina Studio 5.6 adds support for working with...

Oct 27

World Deluxe for Mac OS X ticks to version 4.12.1

MaBaSoft (http://www.mabasoft.net) has released World Clock Deluxe 4.12.1, an update of its Mac OS X tool for companies and organizations regularly communicating with people across the world, for frequent travelers, and for home users having family or friends in other countries or time zones. It's now compatible with Mac OS X Yosemite.
With World Clock Deluxe you can display multiple clocks in a configurable horizontal or vertical palette, in the menu bar, and in the Dock, and show the time in over 1,600 cities and 200 time zones, including Greenwich Mean Time and Coordinated Universal Time. The app also lets you calculate time conversions between different cities or time zones and show the current weather all over the world.
World Clock Deluxe costs US$19 for new users. Version 4.12.1 is a free update for registered version 4.x. users. It requires Mac OS X 10.6 or higher.

Oct 27

PFAssistive Framework revved for Mac OS X Yosemite

PFiddlesoft says it's updated its PFAssistive Framework to version 3.4.0. The PFiddlesoft frameworks are two Cocoa frameworks for writing assistive applications for persons with disabilities using Apple's Accessibility and Quartz Event Taps APIs [application programming interfaces] on Mac OS X.
The PFAssistive Framework was updated to add support for new accessibility features introduced in OS X Yosemite. The frameworks are written using Objective-C. They support the Intel 64-bit architecture using reference counted memory management and ARC.
Developers can now license the PFiddlesoft Frameworks for distribution or use with their own products that use Apple's Accessibility and Quartz Event Taps technologies. The frameworks may be licensed free of charge for personal use or for distribution or use with a free software product. A "modest" license fee is required to distribute or use the frameworks with a product for which payment is requested or required. Source code is available for a...

Oct 27

Xmplify XML Editor for Mac OS X revved to version 1.6.0

MOSO has released version 1.6.0 of the Xmplify XML Editor (http://xmplifyapp.com) for Mac OS X. It's a XML editor built specifically for Mac OS X 10.6 and higher.
Xmplify XML Editor provides a fully XML-aware editing environment with DTD and XML Schema-based auto-completion, automatic document validation, XSLT and XPath support, live HTML preview and much more. Version 1.6.0 adds support for extracting and displaying element specification details from XSDs and DTDs, plus fixes and other improvements.
Xmplify costs US$59; volume and educational discounts are available. Version 1.6.0 is a free upgrade for Xmplify 1.x users.

Oct 27

Bare Bones Software releases BBEdit 11.0

Bare Bones Software has released BBEdit 11.0, an upgrade to its professional strength HTML and text editor. The update builds on a modernized foundation with newly overhauled systems for Find Differences, Clippings, and syntax coloring. Plus, it adds dozens of enhancements and new features.
In total, BBEdit 11 includes more than 200 additions and refinements to this award-winning HTML and text editor. For example, the new Find Differences workflow provides a more efficient single-window presentation of results for both file and folder comparisons, says Rich Siegel, founder and CEO of Bare Bones Software. A new sidebar for folder comparisons identifies mismatched files and makes easy the process of copying files to bring two differing folders into harmony, he adds.
For more information on BBEdit, or to download a fully functional demo version, go to http://www.barebones.com/products/bbedit/ .

Oct 27

Mail Designer Pro for Mac OS X updated to version 2

equinux (http://www.equinux.com) has introduced version 2 of Mail Designer Pro, its Mac OS X app for designing emails and newsletters.
The new version adds: design and preview features for the iPhone 6 Plus and iPhone 6; support for 500+ web fonts; Retina display support; and a link to videos for integrating animated GIFs. It works with Mac OS X 10.7 or higher.
Mail Designer Pro 2 is available at a special limited time price of US$49.99 for a limited time. The price is normally $99.99. The app is available at the Mac App Store.

Oct 27

Zevrix Graphic Inspector now supports OS X Yosemite

Zevrix Solutions (http://www.zevrix.com) has announced Graphic Inspector 1.7.31, a compatibility update to its quality control solution for images and vector graphic files, which checks batches of files for potential problems according to specific workflow requirements.
The software provides graphic professionals with info on multiple images and vector graphic files, saving the time and hassle of checking them manually. The new version introduces full support for Mac OS X Yosemite.
Graphic Inspector can be purchased from the Zevrix web site for US$39.95, as well as from authorized resellers. It's free with purchase of PDF Checkpoint or InPreflight Pro for Adobe InDesign. A demo is available for download. The update is free for users of previous versions. Graphic Inspector requires Mac OS X 10.5 or higher.

Oct 24

Parallels releases Mac Management for Microsoft SCCM

Parallels has launched an update to Parallels Mac Management (parallels.com/mac-management), the product that extends Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) functionality to Macs. Parallels Mac Management enables IT departments to discover, enroll and manage Mac machines just as they do existing PCs – all through a single pane of glass.
The latest version offers new software distribution capabilities that benefit both IT administrators and end users, including the ability for Mac users to install approved software, features for planning hardware refresh cycles, improvements that empower IT administrators to make their Mac computers more secure using advanced encryption techniques, and a streamlined process for enrolling Mac computers in SCCM on large corporate networks.
Parallels tackles the perennial problem of Mac management head-on with Parallels Mac Management 3.1, enabling everyone from IT administrators to system architects to CIOs to leverage their current...

Oct 24

Storage Made Easy updates Mac File Sharing Apps for Yosemite

Storage Made Easy, a company that provides a private Enterprise File Share and Sync Solution compatible with most private and public storage clouds, have updated their Mac Cloud Apps to be compatible with Mac OS X Yosemite.
The SME Mac App suite features a cloud drive, folder sync and menu bar. The Storage Made Easy Cloud Solution integrates the cloud directly in the Yosemite desktop and also supports Mavericks, Mountain Lion and Lion operating systems.
Storage Made Easy currently supports more than 45 private and public data clouds such as Amazon S3, OpenStack, EMC Atmos, Cloudian and CleverSafe. SME also covers every mobile Operating System inclusive of iOS, Android Windows Phone, Windows Tablet, and BlackBerry (both OS versions). Go to
http://www.StorageMadeEasy.com for more info.

Oct 24

MovieBriefs 1.3.1 for Mac OS X beefs up slide show playback, more

einstein's legacy (http://www.einsteinslegacy.com) has announced MovieBriefs 1.3.1. It's an update of the Mac OS X video utility for creating image contact sheets from your movies by extracting up to 400 images and displaying them in an onscreen grid.
MovieBriefs, not only prints and exports overview images, but users may also create dynamic slide shows and share images via e-mail or with popular internet services like Facebook and Twitter. Version 1.3.1 includes enhancements to slide show playback, improved timing accuracy, a new movie info panel, and adjustable image output sizing.
MovieBriefs 1.3.1 is available for US$9.99 from the Mac App Store (in the Video category). It requires Mac OS X 10.9 or higher.

Oct 24

AKVIS introduces Horror Pack for ArtSuite

AKVIS (www.akvis.com) has announced a new collection of frames for its ArtSuite software for Mac OS X and Windows: the Horror Pack with 50 hand painted frame designs.
ArtSuite lets you frame your pictures. Just place a photo into a frame and run processing; the edges will be smoothed and hidden to fit the frame, and you will get a stylish and impressive framed image.
The new Horror Pack includes 50 hand painted frames of vampires, zombies, werewolves, ghosts, demons, witches, and other character. You can buy the new collection for US$15. AKVIS ArtSuite sells for $69; a demo is available for download.

Oct 24

Ephnic Movie Maker is ready for Yosemite

Ephnic Software has launched a new version (2.2.1) of its flagship application, Ephnic Movie Maker, for Mac OS X. The app helps users make home movies out of their favorite photos, video clips and music with transitions and theme effects.
The new version is compatible with Mac OS X Yosemite. It also sports a streamlined interface.
Ephnic Movie Maker is now available on Ephnic's website (http://tinyurl.com/lxhc29d) for US$29.99. A demo is available for download.

Oct 23

RunRev rolls out LiveCode 7

RunRev has released LiveCode 7 (http://livecode.com/livecode-7/), a revision of their multi-platform app development environment. Support for creating apps that work in multiple languages has been added to this version.
This means that developers can create international apps which work with all languages including Chinese and Japanese. The ability to render right to left languages such as Arabic has also been added. In addition to the ability to display and edit text, LiveCode’s text and data processing capabilities have been redeveloped so that LiveCode automatically understands how to process text written in any language.
Additional benefits of LiveCode 7 include support for teaching programming using the Raspberry Pi platform, support for Cocoa on Mac OS, a more powerful way to display web pages within apps and enhanced Linux support, including 64-bit Linux. With the addition of Raspberry Pi, LiveCode 7 now supports 7 platforms: iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, Linux, Server and...

Oct 23

NewerTech introduces the Snuglet for MagSafe 2 power connections

NewerTech (www.newertech.com) has introduced the Snuglet, a precision-manufactured ring designed to sit inside your MagSafe 2 connector port and provide a more snug fit to prevent your power cable from unintentional disconnections.
The NewerTech Snuglet purportedly provides a greater magnetic hold, making the MagSafe 2 power connection stronger. It costs US$19 for a box of two Snuglets and one removal tool.

Oct 23

VisionTek introduces pocket-sized USB 3.0 solid state drives

VisionTek Products has announced the new VisionTek USB Pocket SSD line of thumb drive-sized solid state drives for creative professionals, IT power users, and "performance enthusiasts." The line is compatible with Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux systems with a USB 3.0/2.0 interface.
While it’s sized like an ordinary thumb drive sporting a USB 3.0 connector, the VisionTek USB Pocket SSD’s aircraft-grade aluminum housing contains a SSD featuring a LSI SandForce controller that purportedly delivers up to 455MB/s reads and up to 440MB/s writes.
Both the 120GB (US$109.99) and 240GB ($174.99) models are designed and built in the US and are available immediately directly from VisionTek, select e-tailers such as Newegg, Tiger Direct, and Dell; and national distributors such as Ingram Micro and D&H. For more information go here: http://tinyurl.com/or667vl .

Oct 23

PhatWare releases WritePad handwriting recognition SDK for iOS 8

PhatWare Corp. (http://tinyurl.com/k9kq7tb) has announced its WritePad Software Development Kit (SDK), a new version of the multiplatform, multilingual handwriting recognition for iOS 8.
WritePad SDK enables app developers and OEMs [original equipment manufacturers] to leverage state-of-the-art handwriting recognition software updated for iOS 8. The new version of the SDK features improved handwriting recognition engine, updated dictionaries and new sample code that leverages new features found in iOS 8.
The WritePad SDK 4.5 for iOS is now supports arm7, arm7s, and arm64 architectures, and features improved handwriting recognition engine, updated dictionaries, and improved sample code updated for Xcode 6 and iOS 8. WritePad SDK evaluation is free, while commercial redistribution is royalty-based. Developers can download free SDK evaluation by visiting PhatWare's web site.

Oct 23

iOS Guides launches iPad Air 2 Guide

iOS Guides has introduced its latest eBook, the iPad Air 2 Guide (http://tinyurl.com/nbj9v8l). Available in the iBookstore it covers the technologies of Apple's latest tablet, including the Retina HD display, a camera that can capture video at 120 frames-per-second, and more.
It also covers iOS 8. The iPad Air 2 Guide is 217 pages and costs US$3.99.

Oct 23

GT Advanced Technologies announces settlement agreement with...

GT Advanced Technologies and Apple have reached a settlement agreement under which GT will wind down its sapphire materials production in the company's Mesa, AZ and Salem, MA locations. The company indicated that it will exit from the market as a producer of sapphire materials and will refocus its business as an equipment supplier, manufacturing and developing sapphire growth systems and processes.
Under the terms of the settlement agreement, which is subject to approval by the Bankruptcy Court, GT will be released from all exclusivity obligations under its various agreements with Apple. GT will retain ownership of all production, ancillary and inventory assets located in Mesa, and Apple is provided with a mechanism for recovering its US$439 million pre-payment made to GT over a period of up to four years without interest, solely from a portion of the proceeds from ASF sales.
The agreement provides for a mutual release of any and all claims by both parties. As a result of the agreed...

Oct 23

AOC introduces 17-inch USB monitor designed as a laptop, desktop...

AOC has debuted the AOC 17” USB Monitor (http://tinyurl.com/k2dbfq3), powered by DisplayLink Technology. It's designed for displaying visuals such as business presentations on a laptop or for adding a second monitor to your desktop for increased productivity.
It's Mac and PC compatible. The widescreen monitor receives both power and signal via a single USB cable for plug-and-play connection so doesn't require a power cord or VGA cable. The monitor also comes with a foldable stand that goes from landscape to portrait view mode with auto-pivot.
Designed with a piano-black glossy finish, the USB monitor features a 17.3-inch diagonally viewable area, 10ms response time, and a 1600 x 900 resolution @60Hz. The AOC 17” USB Monitor is available now at Amazon for $199.

Oct 23

Apple removes SSL 3.0 support from its Push Notification Service

Apple is updating its Apple Push Notification service and tells developers (http://tinyurl.com/nr3mxfw) that changes to their servers may be required to remain compatible.
"In order to protect our users against a recently discovered security issue with SSL version 3.0 the Apple Push Notification server will remove support for SSL 3.0 on Wednesday, October 29," Apple says. "Providers using only SSL 3.0 will need to support TLS as soon as possible to ensure the Apple Push Notification service continues to perform as expected. Providers that support both TLS and SSL 3.0 will not be affected and require no changes."
To check for compatibility, the company has already disabled SSL 3.0 on the Provider Communication interface in the development environment only. Developers can immediately test in this development environment to make sure push notifications can be sent to applications.

Oct 23

Monochrome for Mac OS X gets new options for slide show playback

einstein's legacy (http://www.einsteinslegacy.com) has announced Monochrome 2.2.1 for OS X. It's an upgrade of the application for converting batches of color images to grayscale.
Monochrome gives you control over the conversion process and applied effects, so you can create a consistent-looking set of output images. The 2.2.1 update expands the available GPU-based image rendering effects and adds new options for slide show playback.previewing, printing and sharing images.
Monochrome is available for US$19.99 from the Mac App Store in the Photography category. It requires Mac OS X 10.9 or higher.

Oct 22

Elixir releases Tesla Pro theme for RapidWeaver 6

Elixir Graphics has announced Tesla Pro (http://tinyurl.com/k3ajw6w), an US$24.95 "elegant, responsive theme" for RapidWeaver 6, Realmac Software's web development tool.
According to Adam Shiver, owner of Elixir Graphic, some of its most notable features are: extra stock banners; the ability to use your own images as banners; two ExtraContent areas; a lightbox for photo album images; and the "Blog Entry topper."

Oct 22

The Nova BLOX is a new power pack for smartphones, tablets,...

Juno Power has launched the Nova BLOX, a 4,000 mAh power pack packed in a five-ounce aluminum case with a 2.1A USB output. It charges smartphones, tablets, cameras and any other 5V device.
The palm-sized Nova BLOX is equipped with a high-powered LED flashlight. It's offered in three tints of gold, grey and silver. The power bank purportedly provides up to 20 hours of additional talk time for the iPhone 5, 12 hours for the Samsung Galaxy series and 18 hours for the Moto X. The Nova BLOX is currently available at JunoPower.com and Amazon.com for $24.99.

Oct 22

Pyle Audio presents the Street Vibe Portable Bluetooth Speaker...

Pyle Audio (www.pyleaudio.com) has introduced the US$149.99 Street Vibe Portable Bluetooth Speaker System, a classic boom box system that allows instant wireless music streaming through Bluetooth utilization. Additionally, the Street Vibe uses NFC (Near Field Communication) to connect with Android devices.
The Street Vibe is built in the retro boom box mold, but with a LCD display and USB/Micro SD memory card readers. It boasts two 2.5-inch stereo speakers, a built-in rechargeable battery (2200 mAh), a FM radio and sleep timer function, EQ presets, and touch button controls.

Oct 22

Bike2Power introduces the MountCase Kit for the iPhone 6

Bike2Power (www.bike2power.com) has introduced the MountCase Bike Kit for iPhone 6, and the BikeCharge Dynamo, a compact and mountable device with an integrated bicycle dynamo.
The US$49.95 MountCase Bike Kit comes equipped with a RainGuard and MountCase, converting from an everyday case to a bike-mounting system. It's build of polycarbonate plastic and weighs less than two ounces. The RainGuard lays over the MountCase protecting the device from rain, snow, dust and dirt.
While the MountCase Kit allows users to stay connected to fitness apps and trail maps during their rides, the $119 BikeCharge Dynamo uses the rider's own pedal power to charge their mobile devices simultaneously. Sporting a compact build, the BikeCharge Dynamo features a USB 2.0 Port. Able to power bike lights, bike computers, GPS units, cameras and more, the BikeCharge Dynamo’s built-in battery is fully charged after 2.5 hours of 12 mph pedaling.
The BikeCharge Dynamo is controlled from the handlebar with a button...

Oct 22

ScreenFlow 5.0 adds support for iOS recording, more

Telestream has released ScreenFlow 5.0, the latest version of the company's screencasting and video editing software for the Mac. The upgrade adds such features as direct recording from iOS devices, enhanced ease of use, improved media management, and new publishing capabilities.
ScreenFlow 5.0 adds the ability to record directly from an iOS device (iPhone or iPad) and adds new "Touch Callouts" that mimic finger gestures to help guide viewers. Action templates let users save popular actions for repeated use. Color labels on clips and clip-based markers help keep users organized, and iPhoto and iTunes libraries are now accessible from ScreenFlow's Media Library.
When it's time to export the finished piece, the new App Preview export option ensures files adhere to Apple's specifications for Preview on the Mac App Store. Additionally, ScreenFlow 5.0 is designed to save uers time by allowing them to batch export multiple projects at the same time, as well as publish directly to the...

Oct 22

Noteboom Productions introduces Tutor for OS X Yosemite

Noteboom Productions (www.noteboomproductions.com) has introduced Tutor for OS X Yosemite, their latest video tutorial for the Mac.
Tutor for OS X Yosemite consists of 49 video lessons designed to give users a better understanding of how to effectively use Apple's latest operating system for the Mac. It also includes lessons on setting up OS X default behaviors through System Preferences, installing and uninstalling Apps, working with documents, backing up, and troubleshooting tips.
Tutor for OS X Yosemite is included in membership to NoteboomTutorials online. Membership is available for US$8 a month, $19 a quarter, and $59 for an annual subscription.

Oct 22

Nektony releases guide to prepare your Mac for OS X Yosemite

Nektony has launched Getting Ready for Yosemite (http://tinyurl.com/nj6mmff), a free step-by-step guide designed to help users migrate to Mac OS X Yosemite.
In addition, the company highlights Boost & Memory, Disk Expert & ClearDisk, three of its disk utilities that serve to aid Mac users prior to installing Yosemite for OS X. Boost & Memory is used to check the current memory usage and releases the inactive RAM.
Disk Expert helps to perform an inventory of disk space and get rid from useless and bulky content. ClearDisk is used for immediate cleaning a Mac hard drive of unnecessary files.

Oct 22

InSilo.co introduces Peppermint code editor for Mac OS X

InSilo.co has introduced the Peppermint (http://www.osxpeppermint.com) code editor for Mac OS X, which supports more than 50 syntaxes.
It provides advanced editing features with dozens of extensions, giving developers the ability to create new apps. Peppermint is designed to provide a "one-window no-distractions experience" with extensibility features like plug-ins, live JavaScript console and third party extensions, according to Ioannis Zafeiropoulos, InSilo.com's chief software architect and CEO.
Peppermint 1.0 costs US$14.99 and requires Mac OS X 10.7 or higher. It's available worldwide through the Mac App Store in the Developer Tools category.

Oct 22

Zevrix Deliver revved for Mac OS X Yosemite

Zevrix Solutions (www.zevrix.com) has announced Deliver 2.4.10, a compatibility update to its automated file transfer solution for remote and local destinations.
Deliver lets users send files to FTP, SFTP, Amazon S3, WebDAV and other servers and offers automatic e-mail notifications, delivery to multiple destinations, file encryption, delivery history and other powerful capabilities. The new version makes Deliver compatible with recently released Mac OS X Yosemite.
Deliver can be purchased from Zevrix website for US$19.95. A demo is available for download. The update is free for licensed users of Deliver 2.x. Deliver requires Mac OS X 10.5 or higher.

Oct 22

PaintCode for Mac OS X adds Smart Symbols feature

ixelCut has announced PaintCode 2.2, an update of the vector drawing app for Mac OS X that generates Objective-C drawing code in real time. The new version adds Smarat Symobls, a new feature for prototyping user interface designs.
Smart Symbols allow designers to draw something on one canvas, then reuse it as a Symbol on other canvases in the document. When the designer adjusts the original canvas, all changes are instantly visible in all Symbols.
PaintCode 2.2 is available on the Mac App Store for US$99.99. More information about PaintCode and a trial version can be found on the product website (http://www.paintcodeapp.com/). Version 2.2 is a free update for registered users of version 2.x

Oct 21

Bowers & Wilkins launches the T7 portable wireless speaker

Bowers & Wilkins (www.bwgroup.com) has released the T7, a portable speaker that combines Bluetooth wireless streaming with a compact size. It's the company's first Bluetooth speaker.
The T7 uses two (patent-pending) force-canceling high-output bass radiators to extend low frequencies and sports two optimized two-inch drive units. It's the most portable standalone speaker Bowers & Wilkins has ever produced. The size of a hardcover book, it’s designed to be picked up and carried with you. T7’s rechargeable battery purportedly lasts up to 18 hours at normal listening levels.
The new T7 is available now and is priced at US$349.99.

Oct 21

Satechi launches Mac compatible wireless gaming mouse

Satechi has launched the Edge Wireless Gaming Mouse, which is equipped with seven function buttons.
It sports a Gaming Mode, which allows users to press the Turbo Button to double-click with just one keystroke, eliminating the need to literally double-click. This saves gamers valuable seconds, which could mean the difference between a win and a loss, according to the folks at Satechi. The mouse also has a Video Control Mode when not used for gaming. When in this mode, the functions switch into play/pause, fast forward/backtrack and clear screen buttons with a single click. While in this mode, the scroll wheel also adjusts the volume.
The Satechi Edge Wireless Gaming Mouse lets gamers enhance the mouse’s precision and speed with a single touch, adjusting the DPI between 800, 1600, 2400 or 4000 DPI. The mouse is built with 250Hz or 500Hz of return rate on the speed of transmission between the computer and the mouse.
The Edge Wireless Gaming Mouse runs on two AA batteries and features a...

Oct 21

Total War: Shogun 2 – Fall of the Samurai is coming to the Mac

Feral Interactive (www.feralinteractive.com) says the historical strategy game Total War: Shogun 2 – Fall of the Samurai will be released for Mac this fall. Developed by Creative Assembly and published by SEGA for Windows, Total War: Shogun 2 – Fall of the Samurai is a standalone expansion pack for Total War: Shogun 2, brought to the Mac by Feral earlier this year.
Here's how it's described: "It is 1864 and Japan is under intense western pressure to open itself to foreign trade, heightening tensions between the isolationist Imperial forces and those loyal to the more outward-looking Shogunate. Players will choose a side and deploy their mastery of real-time battle tactics and turn-based campaign strategy as all around them Japan hurtles into the modern age, a time of urgent political reform, dramatic social changes and rapid industrialization.
"As they take advantage of Japan’s growing rail network and drive research into civil development and military technology, players must deal...

Oct 21

Output Factory updated for Mac OS X Yosemite

Zevrix Solutions (http://www.zevrix.com) has announced Output Factory 1.511, compatibility update to its professional solution to automate output from Adobe InDesign.
Output Factory automates printing, exporting and post-processing from InDesign and offers batch output, variable file names, layer versioning, preflighting, detailed history and more. The new version makes Output Factory compatible with the recently released Mac OS X Yosemite and is offered as a free update to current users.
Output Factory supports printing as well as exporting to PDF, PostScript, EPS, Flash, INX, IDML, EPUB, INDD and several image formats. It costs US$169.95. A "lite" version is available for $119.95.
BatchOutput users can upgrade to Output Factory for $84.97. Output Factory is available for Mac OS X 10.6 and higher and works with Adobe InDesign CS3-CC 2014.

Oct 21

Hazel is ready for Mac OS X Yosemite

Noodlesoft has released Hazel 3.3 for Mac OS X support for Yosemite. Using Hazel's rule engine, you can create workflows that keep your files organized automatically.
Hazel also features options for managing your Trash and includes an intuitive application uninstaller. Hazel 3.3 adds the ability to have files match multiple rules. The new expanded preview interface allows users to how files match up against specific rules and also adds QuickLook support.
Hazel 3.3 is available for download now and features a 14-day free trial. Hazel has a retail price of US$29 and can be purchased from Noodlesoft (www.noodlesoft.com).

Oct 20

Apple Reports Fourth Quarter Results

Apple has announced financial results for its fiscal 2014 fourth quarter that ended Sept. 27. The company posted quarterly revenue of US$42.1 billion and quarterly net profit of $8.5 billion, or $1.42 per diluted share.
These results compare to revenue of $37.5 billion and net profit of $7.5 billion, or $1.18 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter. Gross margin was 38% compared to 37% in the year-ago quarter. International sales accounted for 60 percent of the quarter’s revenue.
Apple’s board of directors has declared a cash dividend of $.47 per share of the company’s common stock. The dividend is payable on Nov. 13 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on Nov. 10.
"Our fiscal 2014 was one for the record books, including the biggest iPhone launch ever with iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus," said Apple CEO Tim Cook. "With amazing innovations in our new iPhones, iPads and Macs, as well as iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite, we are heading into the holidays with Apple’s strongest...

Oct 20

Apple releases iOS 8.1

Apple has released iOS 8.1 with support for Apple Pay. It also allows Mac OS X Yosemite users to to access Continuity features such as SMS relay and Instant Hotspot.
iOS 8.1 also offers all iOS 8 users access to iCloud Photo Library and fixes some bugs. The over-the-ari upgrade also brings back the My Photo Stream album when the iCloud Photo Library isn't enabled.

Oct 20

CalDigit announces T3 with Thunderbolt 2

CalDigit (www.caldigit.com) says its T3 Thunderbolt 2 RAID storage solution is available for pre-order now and will be shipping Oct. 24. The new version of the T3 features Thunderbolt 2 technology, and a higher storage capacity of 15TB.
The T3 supports RAID 0, 1 & JBOD configurations and includes a five-year warranty. CalDigit is also giving away a free AV Pro drive reader with pre-orders of the 9TB, 12TB or 15TB models of the T3.
The CalDigit T3 with Thunderbolt 2 is available to pre-order now from the CalDigit Online Stores. Pricing for the T3 starts at US$499 (MSRP).

Voilabits (voilabits.com) has released VideoEditor 2.0.0 for Mac OS X. It's an update of the app to cut, trim, edit and merge multiple video clips into a masterpiece.
The new version lets you insert blank video and record monologue video with a built-in webcam. It offers improved stability, an optimized work flow. VideoEditor 2.0.0 also optimized the profile parameters of GPU acceleration, refined the video editing interface, and added a filter for a special video picture.
VideoEditor is designed to help Mac users to create a movie easily. You can cut and merge multiple videos, enhance video via editing features, apply special effect,s adjust brightness and contrast, crop, flip, rotate and more. VideoEditor lets you save your work in any common and HD format including 1080P and 4K ultra HD.
A single license of VideoEditor costs US$39.99. A license for five Macs is $59.99.

Oct 20

LightTable for Mac OS X gets internal re-engineeering

Einstein's legacy (www.einsteinslegacy.com) has unveiled LightTable 2.0.1, an update to its virtual canvas application for Mac OS X. The 2.0.1 update features internal re-engineering, adding more than 30 new GPU-image effects, canvas sharing, and a collection of new options for canvas automation.
Designed for photographers, graphic designers and other creative professionals alike, it allows anyone to move, resize, stretch, stack and align images just like they would on a physical light table. The app is designed to make it easier to identify the visual dynamics created when images are aligned in a two-dimensional space.
Lightable's dynamic canvas sizing allows users to change the canvas size to fit any content they are working with. Its flexible lets users move, resize, stretch, stack and align one of more images anywhere on the canvas.
Lightable's multiple resolution support provides control over the pixel density used to display the canvas. Sharing enables users to drag'n drop...

Oct 20

iMobie Upgrades All Products for OS X Yosemite and iTunes 12

iMobie (www.imobie.com) has launched upgrades on all its product sfor OS X Yosemite and iTunes 12.
The product line features world-class iPhone file management, iOS cleaning, and data recovery solutions, including AnyTrans, PhoneClean and PhoneRescue. AnyTrans is an iOS content management tool. PhoneClean for Mac is an iOS cleaning and optimization tool for iOS devices. PhoneRescue is a "lifesaver" utility for Mac users confronted by iOS data loss problem.

Software Updates via MacUpdate

MacFamilyTree 7.3.4 - Create and explore...

MacFamilyTree gives genealogy a facelift: it's modern, interactive, incredibly fast, and easy to use. We're convinced that generations of chroniclers would have loved to trade in their genealogy... Read more

Yummy FTP 1.10.2 - FTP/SFTP/FTPS client...

Yummy FTP is an FTP + SFTP + FTPS file transfer client which focuses on speed, reliability and productivity.
Whether you need to transfer a few files or a few thousand, schedule automatic backups, or... Read more

VueScan 9.5.08 - Scanner software with a...

VueScan is a scanning program that works with most high-quality flatbed and film scanners to produce scans that have excellent color fidelity and color balance. VueScan is easy to use, and has... Read more

Iridient Developer 3.0.1 - Powerful imag...

Iridient Developer (was RAW Developer) is a powerful image conversion application designed specifically for OS X. Iridient Developer gives advanced photographers total control over every aspect of... Read more

Air Video Server HD 2.1.0 - Stream video...

Air Video Server HD streams videos instantly from your computer on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch or Apple TV. No need to worry about converting or transferring files.
We took everything that was... Read more

Duplicate Annihilator 5.7.5 - Find and d...

Duplicate Annihilator takes on the time-consuming task of comparing the images in your iPhoto library using effective algorithms to make sure that no duplicate escapes.
Duplicate Annihilator... Read more

BusyContacts 1.0.2 - Fast, efficient con...

BusyContacts is a contact manager for OS X that makes creating, finding, and managing contacts faster and more efficient. It brings to contact management the same power, flexibility, and sharing... Read more

Capture One Pro 8.2.0.82 - RAW workflow...

Capture One Pro 8 is a professional RAW converter offering you ultimate image quality with accurate colors and incredible detail from more than 300 high-end cameras -- straight out of the box. It... Read more

Backblaze 4.0.0.872 - Online backup serv...

Backblaze is an online backup service designed from the ground-up for the Mac.With unlimited storage available for $5 per month, as well as a free 15-day trial, peace of mind is within reach with... Read more

Little Snitch 3.5.2 - Alerts you about o...

Little Snitch gives you control over your private outgoing data.
Track background activity As soon as your computer connects to the Internet, applications often have permission to send any... Read more

It seems like this month has been pretty big for wrestling. First Wrestlemania, then 2K has announces that they're releasing WWE 2K for iOS. It's a simulation-based WWE game where you'll get to play with several WWE superstars such as John Cena, ... | Read more »

How the Apple Watch Could Change the Fac...

The Apple Watch is still a ways out, but my previous musings on the wearable’s various features got me thinking: what might it be like a year after launch? Two years? Five years? What if it becomes a symbiotic part of the iOS framework to the point... | Read more »

Pie In The Sky: A Pizza Odyssey (Games)

Pie In The Sky: A Pizza Odyssey 1.0
Device: iOS Universal
Category: Games
Price: $2.99, Version: 1.0 (iTunes)
Description:
A game about delivering pizza. In space.
| Read more »

Chosen Gives Hopeful Singers, Songwriter...

If YouTube videos and reality TV shows like The Voice have taught us one thing, it’s that there are a lot of people out there who are anxious to show the world their talents. And if they’ve taught us a second thing, it’s that there’s an almost... | Read more »

Android's Popular OfficeSuite Now A...

Once only available for Android devices, OfficeSuite has finally landed on the app store. The Mobile Systems app lets you view, edit, create, and share Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents as well as convert them to/from PDFs. It's touted as being... | Read more »

Warhammer: Arcane Magic is Coming Soon,...

Turbo Tape Games has announced that they're joining forces with Games Workshop to bring the turn-based strategy board game, Warhammer: Arcane Magic, to life on the iOS.
| Read more »

Fast & Furious: Legacy's Creati...

| Read more »

N-Fusion and 505's Ember is Totally...

| Read more »

These are All the Apple Watch Apps and G...

The Apple Watch is less than a month from hitting store shelves, and once you get your hands on it you're probably going to want some apps and games to install. Fear not! We've compiled a list of all the Apple Watch apps and games we've been able to... | Read more »

Appy to Have Known You - Lee Hamlet Look...

Being at 148Apps these past 2 years has been an awesome experience that has taught me a great deal, and working with such a great team has been a privilege. Thank you to Rob Rich, and to both Rob LeFebvre and Jeff Scott before him, for helping me... | Read more »

Price Scanner via MacPrices.net

Adobe Brings Powerful Layout-Design Capabilit...

Adobe today announced the availability of Adobe Comp CC, a free iPad app that enables rapid creation of layout concepts for mobile, Web and print projects. With Comp CC, designers can rough out and... Read more

Apple offering refurbished 27-inch 5K iMacs f...

The Apple Store is offering Apple Certified Refurbished 27″ 3.5GHz 5K iMacs for $2119 including free shipping. Their price is $380 off the price of new models, and it’s the lowest price available for... Read more

16GB iPad mini on sale for $199, save $50

Walmart has 16GB iPad minis (1st generation) available for $199.99 on their online store, including free shipping. Their price is $50 off MSRP. Online orders only.
Read more

The Apple Store has Apple Certified Refurbished 13″ 2.6GHz/128GB Retina MacBook Pros available for $979 including free shipping. Original MSRP for this model was $1299.
Read more

Save up to $600 with Apple refurbished Mac Pr...

The Apple Store is offering Apple Certified Refurbished Mac Pros for up to $600 off the cost of new models. An Apple one-year warranty is included with each Mac Pro, and shipping is free. The... Read more

Samsung Galaxy S 6 and Galaxy S 6 edge U.S. P...

Samsung Electronics America, Inc. has announced the Galaxy S 6 and Galaxy S 6 edge will be available in the U.S. beginning April 10, with pre-orders being accepted now.
“We have completely reimagined... Read more

13-inch 2.5GHz MacBook Pro (refurbished) avai...

The Apple Store has Apple Certified Refurbished 13″ 2.5GHz MacBook Pros available for $829, or $270 off the cost of new models. Apple’s one-year warranty is standard, and shipping is free:
- 13″ 2.... Read more

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